See all 9 routes on Levisa Fork
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Levisa ForkAirport Ramp to Levisa Fork Boat Ramp
Lower Levisa float from Airport Ramp to Levisa Fork Boat Ramp near Paintsville. KDFWR still lists the public 8.1-mile segment directly, keeps both ramps active, and uses the same official Prestonsburg gauge ladder for this downstream reach.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Airport Ramp and take out about 8.1 miles downstream at Levisa Fork Boat Ramp near Paintsville. KDFWR still uses the Prestonsburg gauge here and rates 800 to 1,500 cfs, or 3.5 to 5.0 ft, as the good boating band.
Access map
Put-in
Airport RampAirport Ramp is a paved public launch with unpaved parking and no camping listed. Inspect the lot and shoreline before leaving vehicles.
Take-out
Levisa Fork Boat RampLevisa Fork Boat Ramp is a paved public Paintsville-area take-out with nearby town services, but KDFWR does not document it as a campground or overnight paddle endpoint.
Road shuttle
Stage the Levisa Fork Boat Ramp vehicle first, then drive back to Airport Ramp. Inspect both landings before launching because the lower river can expose mud, drift, or changed shoreline angles as levels move around.
Additional access notes
- Below KDFWR's Prestonsburg good range of 800–1,500 cfs or 3.5–5.0 ft, expect slower pools, shallower shoals, or dragging; check the live reading and trend.
- Stay with the named public accesses and do not assume open stopping rights on private banks or side properties along the corridor.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay inside the KDFWR Prestonsburg good band when possible; below 800 cfs or 3.5 ft the wider lower river can become slow and scrapey, and above 1,500 cfs or 5.0 ft the current is outside the good range.
- Use the KDFWR Airport Ramp and Levisa Fork Boat Ramp as the planned endpoints, and do not assume private banks or side properties are available as casual exits.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Levisa Fork at Prestonsburg, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Levisa Fork at Prestonsburg, KY |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 800 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for Levisa Fork at Prestonsburg |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official level band800-1,500 cfs / 3.5-5.0 ft
KDFWR rates Levisa Fork at Prestonsburg as Low below 800 cfs or 3.5 ft, Good from 800 to 1,500 cfs or 3.5 to 5.0 ft, and High above 1,500 cfs or 5.0 ft.
- Official route segmentAirport Ramp to Levisa Fork Boat Ramp, 8.1 miles
The current KDFWR Levisa Fork mileage table lists Airport Ramp to Levisa Fork Boat Ramp directly as an 8.1-mile public route.
- Put-in accessAirport Ramp, 37.7427, -82.7702
KDFWR identifies Airport Ramp as a paved public single-lane ramp with unpaved parking, year-round 24-hour boat-ramp access, and no camping listed.
- Take-out accessLevisa Fork Boat Ramp, 37.8141, -82.7913
KDFWR identifies Levisa Fork Boat Ramp near Paintsville as a paved public single-lane ramp with year-round 24-hour access and nearby town services, but no documented campground support.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-15USGS 03209800 at 793 cfs / 2.80 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping postureNo verified route camping on this lower corridor
Current KDFWR access-detail pages list Camping as None for Airport Ramp and do not document campground support at Levisa Fork Boat Ramp. Treat this as a day float rather than a supported overnight route.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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